Virtual Perceptions

The Immersive Wire

Weekly analysis of the immersive industry

By Tom Ffiske // 12 August 2020Forwarded the newsletter? Subscribe here.Forgot to add this last week, but I recently wrote a fair bit about VR and eSports for IBC365. Check out the full piece here.

As the training world becomes virtual, we’re your trusted guide through the immersive worlds to reality.

Our use case template

can help you head in the right direction.

THE BIG STORY

This impacts immersive tech because the most successful experiences would be easily-consumable chunks. They may be, among many other things: 

• Frictionless to access;

• Short and to the point;

• Engaging enough to make people last on the app. 

Many companies do this really well, and have seen some great success via some marketing activations But I also wonder what innovations will come next to make it easier for people to access content. My money is on WebAR/WebVR, which lets companies deliver experiences via URL links. How easy and seamless is that? In fact, I can imagine a mega-hit experience soaring to international interest, because it can be shared as a simple weblink within private messaging apps. Who knows?

SUMMER READING

Available as a paperback or eBook. 

OTHER STORIES

• Exclusive: XR Nation’s population grows to 22 member companies.

  • Founded in March 2020,it has grown very quickly.One wonders how... I'll be following this closely. 

  • (I thank XR Nation for giving this as the Immersive Wire's first exclusive story, before anyone else. Thank you!)

• Want to participate in the world's first VR golf tournament? 

  • Check out Ready Player Golf, where all proceeds go to charity. 

  • (I will be playing too, so feel free to laugh at me at the event). 

• Want to do some VR broom racing?  

  • Now you can! Little Witch Academia: VR Broom Racing is coming out on the Oculus Quest this October. 

• Funding is still rolling in, particularly for Coventry University. 

  • Coventry and Warwickshire Creative Futures (CWCF) has been seed funding totalling £50,000 from the Strength in Places Fund, provided by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

• Venice Film Festival (which is widely praised) has announced their VR slate. 

  • Check out the productions appearing. I am personally interested in seeing more multiple-choice narratives. 

• AR works wonders for engagement - perhaps for tourism as well. 

  • As one example, Sea Monster launched an AR solution specificfor the tourism industry in Cape Town. 

• Last week I mentioned the Fabric of Reality, the VR fashion event...

  • ... the show can now be seen on Viveport, via the Museum of Other Realities. For context,this is what it looked like. 

• Need a fun book while relaxing in the sun? 

  • Check out The Memory Engine, a satirical take on VR. After a series of bizarre attacks on a huge virtual world known as ‘Opalia’, Evan is forced to use the Memory Engine and explore the past in hope of bringing the perpetrators to justice.

• Are you a UK or Canadian artist? 

  • A new immersive talent development and co-production fund is looking for sign-ups. It is the first exchange programme dedicated to immersive storytelling between the UK and Canada. Seems cool! 

JOB BOARD

Inspirit, a VR-education platform that builds science labs and simulations, is looking for a full-time remote full-stack developer to join their team in the next month. Full job description is here.

StoryFutures Academy is looking for a Marketing Manager. Passionate about immersive storytelling?

Check out the open role. 

THE IMMERSIVE WIRE INTERVIEW

Nick Witsel is a Games Designer at Vertigo Games. We discuss the building process of a video game; what aspects to consider, how it is different from console gaming and the insights that come from working in the area for some time.